A Quick Update- "eggcellent progression"

Just checking in to let my loyal blog followers (haha) know our day #1 fertilization update! Of the 11 eggs retrieved, 10 were mature and able to be fertilized last evening. As of Noon today, 9 eggs had fertilized normally with cells dividing into the stage 2 growth. We're looking for viable eggs to develop to stage 4 on tomorrow's report and praying that these eggs will continue growing if God sees fit. It's a bit harsh but what the embryologist are looking for is "survival of the fittest" so that the best egg(s) can be implanted with the best chances of attaching to my uterine lining for a pregnancy!

I hope that my honesty doesn't freak anyone out; however, it is part of the IVF process that we had to accept when deciding to take this journey.

An Update, Post Surgery.

Well, the day has come and gone with a successful egg retrieval surgery, quite a lot to accomplish by Noon on Sunday. Dr. W (the surgeon) was able to retrieve 11 eggs from my 15 follicles, which was totally normal and very encouraging. The pain for the most part feels like I’ve been punched in the stomach a few times, but all in all, it could be worse. I managed to get through most of the day on the remnants of the sedatives they had given to me in the OR and just started the hydrocodone prescription this evening. (I’m sorry for the poor grammar; the drugs are starting to kick in!)

At the end of the day, we’re left with a good and successful feeling, Praise God!

And, as I said during my inaugural blog post- I will show you the good, bad and ugly! Here's the bad/ugly- me freshly showered at 6am with no makeup, deodorant, lotion, body spray, nail polish, ready for surgery!

Trusting in His Plan!

Jeremiah 29:11-14
"...For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you….."

Thank you heavenly father for watching over me.

The Next Step

The next step involves no more:

Needles

Bruises & Swelling

Carrying 15 golfball size follicles in my tummy

Happy Trigger Day! The Hubs delivered the trigger shot at 8pm this evening and other than feeling like I did one too many squats afterward, it was pretty pain free; kudos to Dr. Hubs for easing my fears as he delivered the needle below into my right buttock.

 Our weekend and upcoming week includes:

9am Bloodwork tomorrow

6am pre-surgery prep on Sunday and 8am egg retrieval surgery

A fertilization and egg report Monday & Tuesday and implantation sometime Wednesday-Friday, followed by 2 days of bed rest.

And then the longest 2 week wait of our life begins, but we’re so excited to begin waiting. I’m taking suggestions on good books to read during this 2 week wait, suggest away!

And then the cart pulled in...

And then the cart pulled in…

Today is day #6 and it began with the usual blood work and vaginal intrusion (aka ultrasound.) Things look good and I’m starting on a new hormone, Ganirelix, tonight. This hormone is supposed to slow things down a bit; my ovaries are measuring at 14 currently and my estrogen is 525, most ladies measure at 9 during ovulation.  

I’m happy to be starting the next phase of drug intervention and thrilled to be nearing the end of my uncomfortable hormonal crazies! Although the discomfort is 24/7, the pain has been fairly minimal. I had one moment on Saturday where I wanted to fight with the hubs over silliness (serious silliness), but I was able to put my hormones in check. This morning at the fertility clinic, the ultrasound technician printed out my hormone growth charts (below) for my “first entry into our baby book.” That’s when I knew I was hormonal, as I sat in the office crying, sobbing, whichever you prefer. Then I continued to cry in Target and all the way to my office. It was the sort of uncontrollable relief/ happiness tears that I’m fairly certain were hormone induced because I could not stop if I tried to.

So in my previous post I spoke about not letting me “put the cart before the horse” which to me meant rest too much hope in this procedure working on the first attempt, and then the cart pulled in….

In my relief/ happiness state Rue LaLa opened this morning with a sale on Petunia Pickle Bottom bags- the diaper bag I’d been ogling for the past year. And I did it, a total impulse buy! This little bag will be arriving at my home next week and is the first official purchase for a baby not-yet created. This may seem a little preemptive, but my cup runneth over as the hope for this child seemed more real this morning that it ever had before.

Day #4

 I’m on day #4 of hormone injections and until now I’ve felt like a champ! I’ve had minimal physical and emotional side effects and have had to scold myself when thinking “I don’t understand what the big deal is!” Then, day #4 began!

I woke up early this morning for a 7:30am ultrasound and bloodwork appointment at one of the few fertility office locations open on the weekends, 1-hour from my house. A little groggy, I began to notice that things felt heavier, achy and uncomfortable. At my appointment, the Dr. said that everything looked great this morning and that “things” were progressing nicely, but also warned me that my ovaries were growing and that I would soon began to feel the discomfort of this. Boy was he right!

I can’t say that I’ve ever been in pain throughout this process; however, I spent most of the day feeling like I was carrying a softball in my stomach and that my skin was being stretched to uncomfortable limits. It’s made for difficulties sitting and standing for too long. Finally, this evening, I’ve started to notice my stomach becoming a bit harder than normal and protruding slightly. While I did enjoy a very good dessert last evening, I don’t think that my metabolism is punishing me!

So, day #4 brings about 6-8 more days of hormone therapy- I can do this! While I’m uncomfortable, I’m keeping my eye on the prize and relishing in the hubs, who has stepped up his game with cleaning, laundry, etc. to keep me off of my feet!

The big week has (finally) arrived!!

The big week has arrived!!

After many weeks/ days of waiting, the start of my active drugs has arrived. I thought I would be more nervous than excited, but I’m honestly excited to get started and ready to see what kind of side effects these drugs are going to have on me.

I visited the fertility clinic yesterday morning (yes, that’s right, 7:30am on Sunday- fertility knows no time) for an ultrasound and blood work to check my PRE-IVF ovaries, progesterone and estrogen levels. All tests came back good; however, they delayed the start of my active drug protocol by 1 day to let things mature just a bit more.

The plan:

-          Thursday is the start of Gonal F and Menopur injections, both taken in my stomach, which I’m used to and (BONUS) I can administer myself. The Hubby is definitely relieved by this one! Both will be taken in the evening.

-          I’ll continue this protocol for 3 days and go back into the fertility clinic on Sunday (7:30am again, yawn) for an ultrasound and blood work, to determine if the dosage is correct and when to begin the other injections.

Things I’m anxious about: mixing the Menopur correctly, which needs to be reconstituted from powder to liquid form for injection, please pray that I can do this with ease and with little error.

Thanks for hanging with me friends, the fun has just begun!

Putting the Cart Before the Horse!

In the interest of full disclosure, I find it necessary to share with you my goals for the IVF process and pregnancy; after all, I’ve had quite some time to develop these. My hope is that by sharing my goals, you’ll hold me accountable.

Goal #1: To get pregnant via IVF (duh!) Since starting the process we’ve had to cease “trying” with all conventional methods, so unless Immaculate Conception occurs, it’s not happening any other way.

Goal #2: To refrain from purchasing any baby paraphernalia/ maternity paraphernalia for myself until I am with child. This has been extremely difficult, specifically when the Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags I’ve drooled over in Nordstrom’s were on the half yearly sale.

Goal #3: To continue working out/ teaching group fitness classes throughout pregnancy. Sadly, Dr. T (fertility specialist) put the kibbutz on high-impact and weight lifting while going through IVF. So, I’ve taken a temporary medical leave from permanent classes (where my member’s are friends) and have promised myself and them to return just as soon as I get the thumbs up. During my past 15 years of teaching, I’ve had several participants workout up until their due date and I hope to be no different. I (obviously) will do what the Drs. deem necessary, but I hope this includes my regular workout routine.

Goal #4: To maintain my a1c levels, which is a glycated hemoglobin level, reflective of the control I have upon my diabetes. During the first trimester my cells will become highly sensitive to insulin, during trimesters two and three my cells will become highly resistive, resulting in greater insulin demands. These fluctuating demands will make blood sugar control tricky, compounded by increase appetite.

Tired of waiting.....

Waiting, waiting waiting…. It seems like that’s all we’ve been doing these last 1.5 years. First waiting to get pregnant, then waiting to find out why it wasn’t happening, now waiting to figure out if IVF will work. Although our outlook has remained positive, I’d be lying to you if I didn’t admit to days of hopelessness and frustration!

On days when I find my prayers repetitive, frustrating and exhausting I’m reminded of the story of Isaac.  

“Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.”- Genesis 25: 26b

Isaac was a patient man, who waited 40 years for the perfect wife, and 20 years for Rebekah to bear him children. He remained hopeful that the Lord would deliver and make the impossible, possible.

So on this day as I grow weary of searching for understanding of God’s plan, tired of praying the same prayers, tired of the wait- I am reminded that Isaac grew tired as well, but trusted in God’s plan and surely did God deliver in His perfect timing. I take comfort in Isaac’s unwavering faith and in knowing that God is just waiting for the perfect time to answer.

Welcome back to the grind!

I thought I would share with you my Tuesday (which was like Monday, because it was my first day back to work) morning fun. Yes, that’s an ultrasound probe covered with a condom….. Yes, there’s also a catheter that goes along with it. What the Dr. didn’t say was that they would inflate my lady parts with water to see them on the ultrasound screen and then I would get to wear a quasi-diaper the remainder of the morning with said water leaking from me. It was fantastic (insert sarcasm here), I also really enjoyed getting my cervix punctured by a catheter for the second time in 6 months (first was from an HSG x-ray).  Good news is that the road map  for egg export/implantation was established, plenty of pretty pictures were taken, and I’m on the road to drugs and hopefully a little one.

I hope your first week back to the grind has been equally as fun as mine has!

(Before cuteness and organization)

 (After)

Happy 2012!

This past Friday, FedEx sent us a very special delivery in the form of drugs and needles. I hope it will be the only time that I can publish a Facebook status that reads "Waiting on my drugs to arrive!"

To make myself feel less anxious about the aforementioned goodies, I promptly went to HomeGoods to purchase a cute organization basket to store them in. Now I feel less like we're running a meth-lab out of our kitchen and more like a domestic goddess, who can organize anything!

We have yet to learn the specifics about the active drug protocol, but we do know that the process will begin on or around 01/18. That's a warning for everyone that I may be a bit emotional toward the end of January. Answer your phones cautiously!

I'm headed to Dr. L (fertility specialist) on Tuesday for a mock embryo transfer, which is where they stick a long needle and ultrasound probe in me to take pictures of my follicles, tubes, and the best routes to proceed. The way I understand it, it's like setting up a map of my lady parts so that when the important export and import steps happen, they won't be getting lost. At this appointment, they'll be going over the treatment schedule. The hubs will also get to learn how to administer the intramuscular injections (3-inch needle), he says that he's not nervous about this, but boy oh boy, I am!

We're excited to get started and for all the fun that 2012 has in store for us. I wish you friends, a happy and prosperous New Year and in light of this post, I feel it fitting to say, "Just Say No!" (hehe)